Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-13

and prosperity of his native town, Is IN IA
vor of the plan, because with half an eye
he sees that it is the one particular thing
which the city needs to lift it out OF the
rut in which she has fingered Tor almost q
score Of years and put her in the path OF
progress, with all the added wealth and
population which progress brings in her
train, He sees that the building OF the
bridge at once makes all the community
on the Ohio side of the river practically a
part of the city; that the tunneliDg OF the
hill and the construction of the halt-belt
railroad down the valley ofthe creek to the
neighbOrhood of the present site OF the B.
Il D. depot would add a hundred fold TO
the importance Of the city as a railroad
centre, and also that the hui'ding OF this
line would open up to manufacturing pur-
poses the whole of the territory on the east
of the city, and about the Peninsula, and
make a new and important addition to the
area of the town.
All these arguments, and countless
others, are present in the minds of those
! who are interested in the plan to boom
the city ina legitimate lud remuneratlve
way, and there is every indication thai
the interest Is on the increase, aud that
the bridge will soon be in such shape that
its construction will only be q matter OF
mechanical detail.
The city was never IN a better position
10 enter upon the contamination OF the
| bridge ~vro;act. Under the provisions OF
the act of December ;, 1873, limiting our
bonded Indebtedness to five pei csnt. on
the asserted valuation of the real and
personal prOparty within the limits OF the
city, as aSoertaiued by the county asses
sors, we have an ample margin to go on,
and with as much help from the county
the question of money would be settled.
According to the provisions OF the Act
above referred to, the total OF the real and
personal valuation of tho property lying
within the limits of the city of Wheeling
is SIT, 6O2, 1872, this total being made up as
follows
Real estate ..... ...... .....,,yS i'll ,69I 40
Personal property ""....."....'.''. o'oslr w
Railroad assessment. ........-...""""""" =''ie--
mctal. ..... ST., COZ 1872
Five per cent. OF t!s.is total of ST., 602, =
732 is $3.50, 1876. The present total bonded
indebtedness is 1922, 500. Therefore, a
statement of the situation as regards the
city's power to issue bonds would read
like this:
Limit of indebtedness, according to law $3.50 l36
Present bonded o-2,0OJ
Margin to 90 $751; $50
1t has been suggested that the city issue
her bonds for say $780, 900 in aid OF the
bridge, and that the county do the same
thing to the same amount. This sum
would more than complete one-half OF the
proposed improvement. Then let the
bridge be bonded for enough to complete
the construction, the bonds to be paid,
pr~incipa, and interest, out of the net
profits of the enter Pfise rising from a
tonnage toll on the traffic over it. This,
however, is a matter of detail, to be
worked out once the proposition has been
officially put on foot and the project has
been entered upon.
There seems to he 40 opposition to the
bridge among our citizens. All classes
appear 10 he heartily in favor of the plan.
Some of the expressions upoa tie subject
yesterday are appended, as showing the
condition of the popular pulse.
Hon. J. A. Miller am in for the
Union Bridge heartily and think we can
easily get it. 1t certainly will be a great
thing for the city.
Henry M. Harper-It would be a grea.
thing for the city, and we ought to have
the bridge by all means. Railroads are the
making of any city.
n. Z. Whitaker-I think that if we can
get any railroads into the city aad over the
bridge, we should do so by all means. 1t
would be money well spent to build the
bridge.
A. J. Cecil-The bridge would be great
thing for the city and l think it could be
pushed through without a great deal of
trouble. But to do it, we must drop the
park project and devote our whole energy
to pushing the bridge through. 1t will
be the making of the city, there is no doubt
about that.
John G.. Hoffman, Jr.-I would rather
see them put the money into a bridge than
into park. 1t would benefit the city a
great deal more, and l think the city and
county should take hold of the matter and
keep railroad corporations ont Of it. If
any railroad wants to come across the
bridge into the city let it do SO, but we7
should keep entire control of it.
Bloch Bros The bridge would be a
great thing undoubtedly. We want all the
railroads we can get into the city, and the
matter should be pushed.
W. F. Peterson-What / think is that it
is the basis of the greatest prosperity
Wheeling has ever known, and would be
the making of the city. 1t is perfectly
possible, and in my mind can be accom-
plished. That's what l think Of it.
Robert ~Simpson-The bridge would be
a great thing for the city, and l think
could be pushed through. We should drop
this park matter and devote all our spare
money and energy to building the bridge.
Senator Scott think it is the best
thing that could happen Wheeling, aud
Am sure we will have the bridge. With
that idea In my mind ] had a bill put
through the last Legislature giving the
originators of the bridge project additional
time in which to erect it. Senate bill No.
"a, the bill referred to, provides that any
laws of the State since March IA,
1887, which shall commence the con-
struction of this road within one year after
this act, or which shall have hereafter com.
meneed such construction and shall within
the three years after the passage Of the
same, actually and in good faith spend
thereon 10 per cent. Of its stock actually
subscribed, etc, etc, the corporate exist
ence, franchise and power of such railroad
company shall remain the same rs though
the provisions Of section 66, chapter IL, Of
the Acts Of 1881, had been fully complied
with and no forfeiture nor judgment of
custer shall berendered against said COM
pany by reason ofits failuet to comply with
said section. Now / think the manufac-
turers of the city would be willing to sub
scribe enough to do this work and thus |